(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) - With the San Diego Unified School District facing a budget cut of $80 million or more in the next school year, the Board of Education has scheduled town hall meetings with the public in the coming weeks to open up the public discussion.

 All San Diego Unified taxpayers, including parents and guardians, students, district employees and interested citizens are urged to attend.

 “We are facing a third year of severe budget reductions by the state of California,” said Shelia Jackson, president of the Board of Education. “We’ve made this district a lean, mean, educating machine over the last two years. These new cuts will require us to eliminate programs and affect our ability to effectively teach.”

 Attendees will learn more about the budget crisis and offer ideas and feedback to Board members on the best ways to balance the budget for the 2010-11 school year.

The following dates are the upcoming meetings and location info., all being held from 6:30-8:00pm.

-- Thursday, Dec. 3: San Diego High Educational Complex, Performing Arts Theater, 1405 Park Blvd. (92101). Sub-District D, Richard Barrera.

-- Wednesday, Dec. 9: Mission Bay High School, auditorium, 2475 Grand Ave.

(92109). Sub-District C, John de Beck.

--  Tuesday, Dec. 15: Lincoln High School, Performing Arts Theater, 4777 Imperial Avenue (92113). Sub-District E, Shelia Jackson.

 --  Thursday, Dec. 17: Madison High School, Performing Arts Center, 4833 Doliva Dr. (92117). Sub-District A, John Lee Evans.

 Presentation slides for the upcoming community budget meeting have been posted online at www.sandi.net/budget